Post Doctoral Research Associate (Chemical and Materials Engineering)

New Jersey Institute of Technology; Illinois; Hybrid; USD 57,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

New Jersey Institute of Technology is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Chemical and Materials Engineering to advance ML-accelerated characterization and DEM-based modeling for pharmaceutical materials. The role emphasizes collaboration with CIMSEPP, data integration, and method development.

The candidate should hold a Ph.D. in Engineering with strong mathematical modeling experience and be proficient in Python, with excellent communication skills in English.

Qualifications

• PhD in Engineering with strong mathematical modeling experience.
• Experience with modeling granular materials transport and discrete element modeling (DEM).
• Excellent Python programming and data analysis workflow implementation skills.
• Good command of English, written and spoken.

Responsibilities

• Develop ML-accelerated workflows for microscopic surface characterization and coarse-grained adhesion modeling.
• Integrate experimental data and material parameters into a DEM framework for particle flow studies.
• Design and implement ML surrogates to accelerate DEM in pharmaceutical unit operations.
• Supervise undergraduate and Master’s students on related projects.
• Serve as main point of contact for mathematical modeling and computational methods.

Skills

Mathematical modeling

DEM modeling

Python programming

Data analysis workflows

Education

Ph.D. in Engineering

Tools

Python

Job description

Post Doctoral Research Associate (Chemical and Materials Engineering)

Department: Dist Professor

Reports To: Distinguished Professor

Position Summary

This is a Postdoctoral Research Associate position. We are seeking a self-motivated individual with strong mathematical, physics and engineering background. The candidate is expected to have excellent computational skills, self-initiative, attention to details and ability to integrate experimental work from various projects into modeling. Background in Machine Learning (ML) and AI tools is desired. The person should also be able to plan and conduct numerical and physical experiments. Ideal candidate will collaborate with faculty, doctoral students, and postdocs within Center for Integrated Material Science and Engineering for Pharmaceutical Products (CIMSEPP) which is a NSF Industry-University Cooperative Research Center (IUCRC) at NJIT.

Essential Functions

• Develop a workflow for machine learning-accelerated characterization of microscopic surface roughness and shape morphology of crystalline, spray dried and/or amorphous solid dispersions.
• Integrate this information with property prediction tools coupled with experimentally measurable quantity into a coarse-grained mathematical model of adhesion for particle-scale discrete element simulation of particle flow in the testing and manufacturing equipment used in pharmaceutical research and industry. Example systems of interest include: (1) categorization of spray-dried dispersions (SDDs) to be able to add a ML layer for a hybrid particle property prediction system; (2) DEM simulations of simple geometries to study mixing and segregation of particle systems.

Additional Functions

Responsibilities include:

• Leading the development, calibration, and validation of computational workflows to quantify microscopic surface roughness from stereomicroscopic data
• Integrating experimental data, knowledge, and material parameters into the discrete element modeling (DEM) framework.
• Design and implement machine learning surrogates and coarse-graining strategies to accelerate DEM for industrially relevant pharmaceutical unit operations
• Supervision of undergraduate and Master's degree students on their related projects.
• Be the main point of contact (POC) for all mathematical modeling and computational methods.
• Disseminate results through peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, and reports to the CIMSEPP Industrial Advisory Board (IAB).

Pre-requisite Qualifications

A Ph.D. in Engineering with significant mathematical modeling experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong experience in modeling granular materials transport processes. Experience in discrete element model (DEM). Experience and interest in related experiments is a plus.
• Excellent skills in programming and implementation of data analysis workflows in Python.
• Excellent understanding of physics of particulate materials, especially for related contact and adhesion models used in DEM of pharmaceutical materials.
• Good command of the English language, both written and oral. Multiple first-authored journal papers is a plus.

Funding of the Position

This position will be funded from the NSF CIMSEPP IAB grant and other sources. Initial offer is for one year and is renewable based on the availability of funding. Salary is at entry level.

Union

United Council of Academic @ NJIT (UCAN GSRE)

Range

Post Docs

Compensation

$63,480.00

Pay range details: NJIT considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as, market and organizational considerations when extending an offer. This pay range represents base pay only and excludes any additional items such as incentives, bonuses, or other items.

FLSA

Exempt

Time Type

Full time

Pay Rate

Salary

At the university's discretion, the education and experience prerequisites may be exempted where the candidate can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the university an equivalent combination of education and experience specifically preparing the candidate for success in the position.

Additional Information

As an EEO employer NJIT is committed to building a diverse and inclusive teaching, research, and working environment and strongly encourages applications from individuals with disabilities, minorities, veterans, and women.

Employment at NJIT is subject to the provisions of New Jersey First Act which mandates new employees, who are not NJ residents, to establish primary residence in New Jersey within one year of their appointment to certain positions. The law does not apply to any individual employed at NJIT on a temporary or per semester basis as a visiting or adjunct professor, teacher, lecturer, researcher or administrator.

NJIT is an E-Verify employer and uses E-Verify to confirm work authorization of each new hire.